The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

You are hospitalized for poisoning and you want to take a test? Your too funny!

My DH loves all animals. He is very emotionally attached and is one of those people who would bring a sick chicken in the house. He would heat the coop too. I have a hard time reigning him in at times with his notions about chickens and feelings. It is cute, and I feel very fortunate to have a life partner who loves the chickens and ducks. They do have personalities and are entertaining. He really enjoys sitting outside with his coffee, and treats for the poultry. I think its one of his favorite times in good weather. I am blessed.

 

[armorfirelady]

Aoxa I love the pics of your flocks. Spock must be a NN? I still don't know how they don't need scarves in the cold lol

 

[armorfirelady]

Deleted duplicate. Still trying ti figure out iPad mini

 

[Bulldogma]

My DH loves all animals. He is very emotionally attached and is one of those people who would bring a sick chicken in the house. He would heat the coop too. I have a hard time reigning him in at times with his notions about chickens and feelings. It is cute, and I feel very fortunate to have a life partner who loves the chickens and ducks. They do have personalities and are entertaining. He really enjoys sitting outside with his coffee, and treats for the poultry. I think its one of his favorite times in good weather. I am blessed.

Delisha - he truly sounds like a keeper!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

On the topic of Natural Chicken keeping:

Would you all be willing to name the top 5 (or more) things that you do (or want to do) that have been the most valuable to you in raising chickens naturally? Have you changed things to go more natural? What makes you want to go the more natural route? What tips do you have for others along those lines? If you're willing, let us know how long you've had chickens - from mere months to decades.

 

[Ashdoes]

[COLOR=006400]On the topic of Natural Chicken keeping:[/COLOR]

Would you all be willing to name the top 5 (or more) things that you do (or want to do) that have been the most valuable to you in raising chickens naturally?  Have you changed things to go more natural?  What makes you want to go the more natural route?  What tips do you have for others along those lines?  If you're willing, let us know how long you've had chickens - from mere months to decades. 

 

I've had chickens for under 6 months and here are my top five.
I free range them everyday, and it is one of the best decisions I've made. They lve it, and I truly enjoy seeing them run around the back yard. When they hear the sliding door open they run to see what I have for them.
I ferment their feed. We all know the benefits, not just health wise, but money saved is amazing.
We built a huge run. We wanted them to have plenty of room for times they have to stay locked up. It's completely covered, so I know they're safe when I'm away from the house.
I try not to mess with them. I let them do their chicken thing, without interference. Except the Silkies, those two are the first to be picked up anytime kids are here.
Hmmm...maybe I'm too new for five?
Good question though.

 

[delisha]

On the topic of Natural Chicken keeping:

Would you all be willing to name the top 5 (or more) things that you do (or want to do) that have been the most valuable to you in raising chickens naturally? Have you changed things to go more natural? What makes you want to go the more natural route? What tips do you have for others along those lines? If you're willing, let us know how long you've had chickens - from mere months to decades.

I think I told the story about me crying when I came home to chickens in the yard. My daughter was about 3 or 4. It was in the summer of 1980.

1. I went to fairs and shows and asked tons of questions. I think that was one of the best things I did. I asked about breeds, and requirements, egg laying, heating, coops. My grandparents only feed the same grains they feed the horses and left overs. I got the scoop about chicken grains from the *show* folks.

2. Room for them to forage.
I am a firm believer if the chickens are eating the grass down bare you simply have too many chickens for the area.
If you have limited space you need to plant different types of clovers, spinach, Kale's in your grasses. To many have chickens in barren soils. If you are even limited to 12 foot by 6 foot you should cover half of it and grow something. Keep the birds off of it for a month. Dump your deep litter out of the coop into the area they will be in. Grow out the other area. Then reverse it the next month. Cover your newer grass with the deep litter from the coop so the chickens can't rip it all up. Get the other side growing and cover it with hay, leaves or straw. Keep alternating it until you have well established ground cover. Invest in a temporary fence. Let the chickens out in different areas of the yard.

3. Do not get more chickens than you need or your space can provide. Make a plan for the chickens and stick to the plan. The chickens should pay for themselves. If your chicken cost you money or stress it is a cull. Chickens should bring you joy and food.

4. Do not make emotional decisions about chickens. If a chicken is *off*. you simply know it, if you spend time with your chickens. Chickens do not complain when they are in pain, they just act *off*. Examine the chicken, do not wait. Tomorrow will probably be to late. If it is late and dark, bring it in the house with good lighting. Have a *set up* available at all times. (Dog kennel, box) Do the exam. Know what you are looking for. This does no good if you have never picked up your chickens. If you have no idea what a crop is or where it is located. If you have never palpated your hens just before lay and just after to know what they feel like. Know your birds. For all of you out there who have never felt a chicken with an egg ready for lay. Pick up one of your hens before they lay and feel the egg. Feel how firm the belly is. Later in the day after they lay, pick up the same hen and feel it again. feel how soft the belly is. Open the beak and look inside. Know what a healthy mouth smells like and looks like. Feel the crop, some of the hens crops are small and tight, some are large and a bit softer. Know what hens have what type of crops. Young birds usually have large hard crops. If they don't, something is off. I can't impress enough the importance of knowing what chicken layed what egg. A hen off lay is sometimes the first sign something is off. If you crack open a bloody egg, how are you to know who you need to watch or examine? For goodness sake do not let your birds simply die because you don't know. Be a good Stewart and kill your sick birds.

5. Be open minded enough to implement new ideas. Keep good records for both health and money. Records will let you know if new ideas are working.

 

[pigeonguy]

My husband wanted to frame it with lumber but I persisted in not. Wood outdoors does not last long before decay sets in. Average of three to five years before posts start to lean and braces warp. Our rain here is legendary and I live on the edge of a for real rain forest. The ground my posts are sunk in is made up of very deep soft rock free loam. The posts would pull out with very little leverage. This structure could come down and put back up in a few hours. That's all it took to erect.

It is finished for now except for the outside run. I am still thinking over about putting a door on the front. The run will be covered. Right now I've put wheel barrows and garden tools inside. Works great. We've had wind and rain for days and the bungee cord is holding down the tarps very well.

Looks good. I have a question though. Don't the people doing this have predators like coons and opossums? If I did this I would end up with no birds at night because of it.
Not trying to sound negative just curious how you all that do this plan to control the predators.

 

[delisha]

If you have preditors you would need an LGD if you want to keep it open. I would assume this would get a door with out a LGD.

 

[Melabella]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/s...o-as-antibiotic-substitute.html?smid=pl-share

Anyone happen to see this article? Kuddo's to Bell and Evans for stepping outside the box....